Our long-term fleet recently welcomed a new member, a burgundy-and-chrome leviathan otherwise known as the Infiniti QX56. And yet, while many on staff are already scheming for ways to utilize the gargantuan hauling capacity offered by the QX, we're more than reluctant to set our long-term Subaru Outback adrift after a year of unfaltering service.

The logbook during the fourth quarter reflects the main reason for that reluctance: Despite its size, the Subie offered a great alternative to SUV-ness, with its combination of station-wagon cargo space and go-anywhere all-wheel drive.

"What I appreciate most about the Outback," one editor said, "is how versatile it is when I think I need an SUV. It is as good as any small SUV on the market."

One faithful staffer demonstrated exactly how versatile by stuffing a big-screen television in back--upright, no less. The associates tasked with loading the TV into the car approached tentatively, doubtfully eyeing the Subaru. "They easily placed the TV in back, with room to spare. Moral of the story? Don't doubt the Outback."

The all-wheel-drive system shone at ferrying us through all sorts of weather and over all types of road surfaces, and the Subaru became the go-to car for a couple of folks on staff who live farther afield. "Washboards, loose gravel and bottomless potholes that dot the area around my hometown were no match for the Outback," one said.

The car never wanted for power, either, its 3.6-liter boxer-six turning out plenty of grunt at 256 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. But the mostly smooth-operating five-speed automatic transmission was plagued by a glitch that some found more annoying than others. If you jumped back on the gas too quickly after slowing to a crawl, the tranny would clunk--sometimes almost violently--as the car took off. And the effect was endlessly repeatable: Decelerate, step on the gas, clunk.

Despite the nagging trans flaw, we appreciated the overall packaging of the Outback, from the sturdy plastic cargo tray to the numerous storage bins scattered throughout the cabin. It afforded every occupant an immediate sense of being at home, especially during longer treks.

"The first 'Ah, I like this' moment was when I realized that my two bags, cell phone, two different drinks, eyeglasses case and a pair of flip-flops all had perfect homes," one editor explained. "The storage is quite impressive. My favorite was the additional cupholder in the door--not a huge leap in technology, but very utilitarian."

The 2010 Outback had considerably more interior space than the previous model, thanks largely to its raised roof height. The change expanded space for passengers and cargo inside, but it also gave the vehicle a more honest crossover look, rather than the former straight-up station-wagon styling, which a couple of people appreciate. The rest of the staffers love station wagons in general, so the move toward a more masculine, or at least "modern," form was neither a pro nor a con for the Subaru.

The major plus during the course of the year? The Outback spent not a day out of our hands. We faced no problems that required unscheduled trips to the shop and, outside of the clunking transmission (which the dealer checked out twice and said fell within performance specs), suffered no performance or quality issues to complain about. Routine maintenance costs seemed surprisingly low, too, for a nondomestic car; only the third stop, for its 15,000-mile checkup, reached triple-digits costs. The three warranty-covered fixes we did require included replacement of a bad speaker and a broken rear wiper blade and a recall to update the engine control module. In fact, after clocking almost 21,000 miles, the car felt close to new, with no squeaks or rattles emanating from any corner.

'Twas a good year with the steadfast Subie. We'll see whether the gigantic QX can serve us as well.

Natalie Neff
- Road test editor Natalie Neff has been with Autoweek for 11 years and oversees all new-car reviews and testing. She has tested cars across glaciers in Iceland and through the jungles of Belize.
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